Katharine is a social gerontologist who gained 15 years’ experience in an organisation supporting older people before joining HSCWRU as an intern in 2013. From 2014-2018, she undertook a PhD investigating day centres for older people at King’s College London, with funding from The Dunhill Medical Trust’s Older People’s Care Initiative. Her thesis is on the role and purpose of day centres for older people. She then worked on the ‘Handover in care homes – residents’ and families’ perspectives’ study and the Alzheimer’s Society funded study Taking a break. Use of residential respite by people with dementia and carers: access, experiences, outcomes. She is currently involved in the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London Social Care theme programme of work.

Further information about Katharine, her research and activities and publications can be found on the research portal. Posts by Katharine on the Unit blog.

Katharine is on Bluesky.

Katharine Orellana: ORCID iD